The end of Microsoft Speech Server as a standalone product is approaching. Microsoft announced Tuesday at SpeechTEK that Microsoft Speech Server 2007, the company's third installment of its touch tone IVR and speech app development system, will be integrated into its unified communications platform, Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007. Office Communications Server, which was previously known as Live Communications Server, is intended to unify various siloed communication channels including instant messaging, IP telephony, voice response, and audio and video conferencing. Microsoft expects the offering to make it easier for users to locate and connect with the right people at the right time via the most appropriate communication mode. Office Communications Server 2007 will ship next year.
With the Speech Server 2007-Office Communications Server 2007 integration, Microsoft will support current Speech Server customers until 2014, while Speech Server 2004 R2 customers will stay on Microsoft's price list until the end of 2007, according to the company.

The "combination of a mobile workforce and more geographic diversity in our workforce is creating new logistical issues with communications, and at the same time you've got this massive explosion in the modes that we can communicate with," said Richard Bray, a general manager in Microsoft's Unified Communications Group, during his Tuesday morning keynote. Microsoft is investing around "unifying all of those different modes of communication."